Chevin Forest Park

20/08/2026

New Otley Screening !

Following the successful screening of the NEB film @ Otley Courthouse in June , there has been a demand for further showings of the film in Otley.

Here’s another chance to get involved @ The Bridge Church Sanctuary when the film will be shown on Tuesday 22nd September @ 7pm.

No invitation is necessary , just turn up to watch and take part.

Please note that the film’s producers have indicated that it is not suitable for those under the age of 16.

🔥 🌎 🔥 🌍 🔥

17/08/2026

Join the Friends of Chevin Forest on Tuesday 25th August 2026 for an exciting evening learning about bats and using bat detectors to find out about who is living on the Chevin! 🦇🦇

We'll meet at the White House at 7.45 pm and the walk will be completed by 9.30 pm.

More info and the link to sign up here:

Join the Friends of Chevin Forest on Tuesday 25th August 2026 for an exciting evening learning about bats and using bat detectors! Our bat walk will be guided by our Leeds City Council Rangers. We will meet at the White...more

12/08/2026

Lots of folks will be heading up to the Chevin tonight to view the eclipse - enjoy the spectacle, but PLEASE be mindful of the high risk of wildfire and do not take BBQs, or light fires 🔥

07/08/2026

There’s more to the Chevin than the view.

Catch the free Sunday minibus to Surprise View and spend some time exploring the woodland, paths and open spaces around the top of Otley Chevin.

Services leave Otley Bus Station, Stand 5, at 10am, 11am, 12 noon and 1pm this Sunday, August 9.

Return buses leave Surprise View at 10.30am, 11.30am, 12.30pm and 1.30pm.

Well-behaved dogs are welcome too, although they may be rather less interested in the timetable.

04/08/2026

Thanks to everyone who came along and joined in with a very blustery butterfly count last weekend! 🦋

We saw Meadow Browns, Commas, Painted Ladies, Speckled Woods, Six-spot Burnets and lots more.

If you joined in, there's still time to upload your count to Butterfly Conservation here: https://bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org/map

or take part from your own garden before 9th August!

24/07/2026

All aboard for the Chevin.

Otley Town Council’s free Sunday minibus to Surprise View is back again this weekend, making one of the town’s best-loved beauty spots easier to reach.

The bus leaves Otley Bus Station, Stand 5, at 10am, 11am, 12 noon and 1pm this Sunday, July 26.

Return journeys leave Surprise View at 10.30am, 11.30am, 12.30pm and 1.30pm.

Families, visitors, people with limited mobility and well-behaved dogs are all welcome.

19/07/2026

🦋 Join in with this year’s nationwide Big Butterfly Count on the Chevin! 🦋

When: Sunday 26th July any time between 10:30 am and 12:30 pm.

Where: visit our pop-up stall on the Chevin next to the Surprise View Car Park.

The Big Butterfly Count is a UK wide survey, run by Butterfly Conservation, taking place every July that is used to help assess the health of our environment simply by counting butterflies and moths. You can join in and help us record what butterflies and moths are living around the Chevin.

Even better, the Otley Town Council + Otley 2030 free shuttle bus will be running between Otley bus station and Surprise View Car Park!

Visit our website for more information: https://www.chevinforest.co.uk/events/big-butterfly-count-2026/

Photo credit: Belinda Joy 🙂📸

11/07/2026

Summer bus service to Chevin returns for 2026 Otley residents and visitors are once again being offered the chance to enjoy one of the town’s most spectacular beauty spots, thanks to the return of a free Sunday minibus service to Surprise View on Otley Chevin. Following a successful pilot scheme l...

11/07/2026

Join us *tommorow* (Sun 12th July) for our next Big Chevin Balsam Bash from 10 am until 1 pm!

Himalayan Balsam is an invasive species that grows quickly and shades out other ground vegetation; by removing the plant each year, we hope to stop it spreading further across the site.

We’ll meet at the Lower Shawfield Car Park and tackle the balsam growing in the surrounding areas - everyone welcome, more details (including what to wear!) at the link below.

If you're coming from Otley, you can ride the free Otley 2030 & Otley Town Council Chevin Shuttle Bus to join us - a member of FoCF will be at Otley Bus Station to meet anyone on the 10:00 departure 🚐

https://www.chevinforest.co.uk/events/big-chevin-balsam-bash-july-2026/

11/07/2026

Keep your eyes peeled for Common Lizards next time you're on the Chevin!! 🦎